Call For Entries
Frequently Asked Questions

• When and where is the 2011 NaFF?
  The 2011 Festival will be held April 14-21, 2011 at the Regal Green Hills Stadium 16 in Nashville, Tennessee.
  
   
• What are the submission deadlines?
  We have four deadlines:
  
  
  • Earlybird Deadline: July 23, 2010
  • Regular Deadline: Sep. 24, 2010
  • Late Deadline: November 26, 2010
  • WithoutABox.com Exclusive Extended Deadline:  December 31, 2010
  
  The earlier you submit your entry, the lower the fee. Visit the Call For Entry page for entry fees. These are postmarked deadlines; please don't wait until the last minute and send it the slowest way possible. It's always best to assume the worst with the USPS. We suggest applying as early as possible, as the majority of films arrive near the deadline and programmers like to start looking at entries as early as possible. If you submit your film through Withoutabox.com, you are eligible for a Withoutabox Extended Deadline. See Withoutabox.com for details.
  
   
• What is Withoutabox.com?
  Withoutabox.com is NaFF's preferred method for receiving film submissions. Withoutabox is a free online submission service that lets you submit to NaFF and hundreds of other festivals online quickly and easily, as well as allowing you to upload online press kits, photos and more.  Visit Withoutabox.com to submit your entry. 
  
   
• What are the entry fees?
  Entry fee vary depending upon the type of film and when you submit your entry. The earlier you submit, the lower the entry fee. Visit the Call For Entries page for entry fees.
  
   
• What if I want to submit but my film will not be completed by the final deadline?
  We do accept works in progress. Let us know before the final deadline, and we can let you know how late we can wait before we receive the final version of your film for consideration.
  
   
• Will you confirm receipt of my entry?
  We will confirm receipt IF you send us a self-addressed, stamped postcard along with your entry (Please note that if you are in another country, your stamps won't get you very far). We allow foreign entries to email us to inquire receipt of their entry. All entries submitted through Withoutabox will be confirmed when we receive them.
  
   
• Do you grant fee waivers?
  Out of fairness to other filmmakers, it is our policy not to give fee waivers or reductions.
  
   
• What if my film has played other festivals or been broadcast on TV?
  While we don't require a premiere for the films we screen, we do require that your film not have already had a LOCAL (Nashville area) theatrical screening or broadcast. (Excludes locally produced shorts.)
  
   
• How recently does my film have to have been produced?
  We require that your film be completed after January 1, 2009. If you shot some of the film earlier than that, no problem- just as long as it was completed after that date.
  
   
• What makes the Nashville Film Festival different from other festivals?
  NaFF presents an eclectic lineup of US and international films. We are known for a strong documentary line-up, numerous short-form film programs and are unique in that we highlight films about music or that emphasize music in some way. (And not only country and rock music!) We also have numerous diverse prizes, such as awards for best Hispanic filmmaker, best black filmmaker and for the film with the best LGBT content. We are the biggest and most international film festival in the mid-South region. Filmmakers who have attended the Nashville Film Festival always complement us on our warm Southern hospitality: friendly staff and filmgoers, good organization, and cheerful help and advice.
  
   
• What type of films are you looking for?
  We look for a fresh point of view in the narrative and/or subject matter that is presented in a creative way, regardless of budget. The Festival strives to present a lineup of films diverse in as many ways as possible. We also have special sections for family films, Hispanic films, music-related films, gay/lesbian themed films and locally produced and local interest films.
  
   
• Do I need to send a press kit with my entry?
  No. We do ask for a short synopsis, but copious amounts of marketing material and expensive press kits are not needed. If accepted, we will ask for the material we specifically need. You may email us with any updates about the film (what festivals have accepted it, new awards won, etc.), but we do not choose films by how many festivals it has played, awards it has won, or celebrities it involves.
  
   
• Do you have a category for college students? 
  Yes, the College Student Filmmaker Competition where we selected films completed by college students.  They compete for the Vandebil Golden Opportunity Award valued at up to $1,000 in cash.
  
   
• If I was 18 or under when my film was made, but am now over 18, does my film still qualify for the "Young Filmmaker" category?
  Yes, as long as it is the DIRECTOR who is (or was) 18 or under and the film was made after January 1, 2009.
  
   
• Does the Festival show films for children? 
  Even though we show many films suitable for the entire family (such as our Family Shorts Program), we do not have a special section for children only. We are always looking for great films suitable for all age groups.
  
   
• How do you distinguish shorts from features?
  In keeping with the guidelines for the Academy Awards®, we define a short film as under 40 minutes and a feature-length film as 40 minutes and over. Generally, the narrative shorts that we tend to program are under 30 minutes, while the animations, experimental films and films by young filmmakers we program are usually even shorter. Of course, there are always exceptions every year.
  
   
• What is the preferred submission format?
  DVD, REGION 1 or 0 STANDARD.  (Region 1 is used in the US and Canada, while Region 0 is "all-region"). NTSC or PAL formats are acceptable. Be sure to send your DVD in a 5 1/4" by 7 1/2" case. (Smaller, thinner cases can cause your DVD to get lost in the shuffle.)  If you are burning a consumer disc, write your Project Title, Film ID number (if Withoutabox entry) and a contact phone number on the disc with a Sharpie pen. PLEASE test your consumer-burned DVD on several makes and models of players BEFORE sending it to our offices.Technical problems can delay the completion of your submission.
  
   
• How do I know if my film is NTSC or PAL format?
  Depending on the part of the world that you live in, you either have NTSC or PAL broadcasting formats. Most of North America and many Asian countries (Japan, South Korea) favor the format NTSC, which is short for National Television Standards Committee, while Europe, Australia and some parts of Asia use a competing format called PAL, or Phase Alternating Line. However, the equipment we currently use allows us to screen in both formats.
  
   
• Do you accept 'rough cuts' or 'works in progress'?
  We do accept rough cuts or works-in-progress, as long as your film will be completed in time to screen at the Festival. However, please submit your work-in-progress only if you feel the heart of the film is present. Please indicate which production elements are missing on your entry (for example, "the submitted version has scratch music"). If you have submitted a work-in-progress and find that it won't be ready by the time of our Festival, you may submit it the finalized version to us the next year.
  
   
• What if I have not obtained rights to some of the music in my film?
  You are responsible for the music rights to your film. We assume that you have taken care of this when you submit your entry. If we are contacted by any record company or music publisher about the music rights in a film we are showing, we will refer that company to the filmmaker.
  
   
• Can I re-submit a previously rejected film?
  You can only re-submit a film if it has been significantly re-edited from the last submission. Please indicate this if you are re-submitting.
  
   
• How many films can I submit?
  There is no limit to the number of films you can submit. Just be sure to fill out a separate entry form and pay an entry fee for each entry.
  
   
• How many films are submitted each year? How many are accepted?
  In 2008 there were over 1700 films submitted. In 2009, we had just under 2000 entries.  For 2010, we had a final tally of 2235 entries across all categories.  The Festival presented over 215 narrative features, documentaries and short-form films (narrative, animation, experimental, and films by young filmmakers.)
  
   
• Can I speak with someone about feedback of my film?
  Due to the high volume of films submitted, we cannot commit to speaking individually with filmmakers about why we did not select their films.
  
   
• When will I find out if my film has been selected?
  We will notify all entrants by email whether their film has been accepted or rejected on or around February 15, 2011. Please be sure to keep us updated regarding any changes to your contact info.
  
   
• Will my submission be returned?
  No.  We will not return submitted DVDs for any reason.  Addtionally, entry fees are non-refundable if the film has arrived in our office. 
  
   
• If accepted, does the Festival pay to bring the filmmaker to the event?
  Unfortunately, our travel budget does not allow us to provide travel and accommodation for all filmmakers. Filmmakers whose films are selected into the Festival who wish to attend will be given an All-Festival Laminate. We have a travel coordinator to assist with any flight or hotel reservations and we will coordinate transportation to and from the airport, if needed. We do provide attending filmmakers with shuttle service from the Regal Green Hills to any off-site Festival functions, but if you want to do some local touring, renting a car is the way to go.
  
   
• Is there a market component to the Festival?
  There is no official market but we are in touch with many distributors who are very interested in what Festival films receive awards or are well received. We have distributors and other notable people in the independent film world serve as jurors or panelists at the Festival, including Deborah Zimmerman, Executive Director, Women Make Movies; Neal Block, Director of Distribution, Magnolia Pictures, Cathy Fischer, Senior Producer, ITVS Interactive, Liz Ogilvie, Docurama marketing manager; Isil Bagdadi, president of distribution and marketing, Cavu Pictures; Nancy Gerstman, co-president, Zeitgeist Films; independent film consultant and producer Robert Hawk; Gail Silva, Film Arts Foundation; and independent film consultant and producer Lynda Hansen.
  
   
• Just what is the music connection to the Festival?
  In addition to the Music Films in Music City films and awards, NaFF works with Music Row to bring in guests from the music industry. The 2008 NaFF included a panel with music supervisors, live music showcases, and receptions that gave the opportunity for filmmakers to network with local songwriters and composers. Such notable musicians have appeared with various films at the Festival through the years including Rob Thomas, members of the Silver Jews, Lambchop, Rocco Deluca, Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls) Billy Joe Shaver, Jude Cole, Rick Wakeman, and T-Bone Burnett as well as many local musicians such as Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Mark Slaughter, Billy Ray Cyrus, Béla Fleck, Mark Collie, Brooks & Dunn, Alison Kraus, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stewart, Cowboy Jack Clement, the late Jimmy Martin, Earl & Randy Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Natalie Cole, Tracy Nelson and many others.